UTRECHT,August 1, 2017 - The lights were turning out on the reddish bricks of Deventerstadium when Camille Abily was still answering media questions in the mixedzone.
AfterFrance’s 1-0 loss to England in quarter-finals of UEFA Women’s EURO 2017, the32-year-old was quitting Les Bleues.
Theretirement of this legend of French women’s football after her 183rd capsymbolises a generation change.
France'selimination was a failure in terms of objective because the federationpresident had set a target of "reaching the semi-final” for the first timein French women’s football history.
But it wasalso the end of a talented generation who quit without winning any trophy. Aswell as Abily, Elise Bussaglia - similarly very affected in the mixed zone -and Laura Georges have very likely worn the Blue national jersey for the lasttime.
Abily said:“I am very proud to have represented my country for so many years. Retiringwithout any title, any final, leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. I wanted tofinish on the sixth of August [day of the Euro final]."
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The futurein question
OlivierEchouafni, unbeaten since he started to coach the team in September 2016 (eightwins, six draws), did not find the solution to breaking down opponents with adefensive strategy. He changed his line-up for every Euro game in vain. LesBleues ended the competition with only one win, 1-0 against Iceland in thefirst match.
After thequarterfinal defeat Echouafni said: “There is more frustration thandisappointment tonight. I am disappointed with our opponents' style of playduring this tournament. They did not produce any attacking moves and were justwaiting for us in their half. This is not entertaining for the spectators.”
Thisexplanation of French failure was too easy. French difficulties were realduring this Euro on both the defensive side and the offensive one.
Les Bleuesscored three goals in four matches from a set-piece and not from open play,showing a lof of awkwardness in front of the goal.
RightbackJessica Houara d’Hommeaux defended the technical staff after the match.
She said:“Just like Germany we had a new staff. We have been working hard for 10 months.It takes time to get results. I hope that we are going to continue theadventure with them even though they are going to be criticised.
"Livingwithin the group, I can tell you that we had improved ourselves, especiallyfrom a mental point of view.”
This“adventure” will take the team to 2019 and the World Cup in ... France.
She added:“We have two years to prepare this big event. They need time. We want thatcompetition to be a success for all the team and finally get through thequarter final.”
For thefourth time in a row, France have left an international competition at the samestage - after Euro 2013, the 2015 World Cup and 2016 Olympics.
Answeringcriticism of the French coach, FFF president Noel Le Graët said on Monday: “Ido not want to break an organisation that could be working in the future. Thegirls like him, he is smart and will learn from this experience. He only hasone loss in 15 games, he will know how to improve the team.”
A newgeneration is rising
“In thepast, we have been reproached for not having mental toughness. For once, we didbut it was not sufficient,” added Houara d’Hommeaux. She pointed out one of thefew positives of this Euro: the ability to react after letting in a goal orplaying with 10 players for more than one hour as against Switzerland.
Anotherreason for hope on the French side is the progression of a new generation ofplayers led by Grace Geyoro who earned her place in Echouafni’s startinglineups.
Even thoughshe was the youngest player of the group (20 years old) she has been one of themost important French players. She will certainly be a key player in the comingyears alongside Kadidialou Diani or Griedge M'Bock Bathy who are both only 22.
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Abily said:“There are young players with a huge potential. I am sure that they willimprove again during these two upcoming years. They will be helped by playerswho can keep bringing their experience to the team.”
In anycase, they will have to use this tournament as an experience to show anotherface on the pitch. They have now two years of friendly games to prepared fortheir World Cup and finally lift the curse of this quarter final elimination.
Follow PierreEsquer on Twitter @PierreEsquer
